The first of two inter-continental clashes at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund saw Angola get main round group IV off to a start with a three-goal victory against Czechia on Wednesday (3 December).

Angola now have four points to their name in the second phase of the competition as they look to keep the pressure on Norway and Brazil, who sit on the same total with a game in hand and are both heavy favourites to make it through to the main round.

Main Round, Group IV
Czechia vs Angola 25:28 (13:15)

Angola put themselves in a position early on to win, Kassoma’s goal on the line in the 14th minute opening up a six-goal lead but a run of turnovers and missed shots saw the teams go into the break with just two goals separating them (15:13 to Angola) and little else in the stats.

Both sides exchanged goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half as Czechia kept in touch and they could have brought it equal in the 38th minute, but their second turnover of the second period saw the ball back in Angolan hands and Vilma Pegado Nenganga bring back daylight again.

Angola effectively neutralised key backcourt player for Czechia, Charlotte Cholevova, restricting the left back to just two strikes and with their turnovers mounting, the coaching duo of Tomas Hlavaty and Daniel Curda took a pause with the game at risk of running away from them (23:19, 50th minute).

But the gap kept getting wider as their captain Albertin Kassoma – who played in a more controlled role than against Norway where she picked up two two-minute suspensions in the first seven minutes – led at both ends of the court to help keep the dreams of her side alive.

hummel Player of the Match: Albertina Kassoma (Angola)